Dataset Information

Characteristics of Non-Emergent Visits in Emergency Departments: Profiles and Longitudinal Pattern Changes in Taiwan, 2000-2010.

ABSTRACT: An increasing number of emergency department (ED) visits have posed a challenge to health systems in many countries, but an understanding of non-emergent ED visits has remained limited and contentious. This retrospective study analyzed ED visits using three representative cohorts from routine data to explore the profiles and longitudinal pattern changes of non-emergent ED visits in Taiwan. Systematic-, personal-, and ED visit-level data were analyzed using a logistic regression model. Average marginal effects were calculated to compare the effects of each factor. The annual ED visit rate increased up to 261.3 per 1000 population in 2010, and a significant one-third of visits were considered as non-emergent. The rapidly growing utilization of ED visits underwent a watershed change after cost-sharing payments between patients and medical institutions were increased in 2005. In addition to cohort effects resulting from cost-sharing payment changes, all factors were significantly associated with non-emergent ED visits with different levels of impact. We concluded that non-emergent ED visits were associated with multifaceted factors, but the change to cost-sharing payment, being female, younger age, and geographical residence were the most predictive factors. This information would enhance the implementation of evidence-based strategies to optimize ED use.

SUBMITTER: Huang LC

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6603954 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Characteristics of Non-Emergent Visits in Emergency Departments: Profiles and Longitudinal Pattern Changes in Taiwan, 2000-2010.

Huang Liang-Chung LC Chung Wu-Fu WF Liu Shih-Wei SW Wu Jau-Ching JC Chen Li-Fu LF Chen Yu-Chun YC

International journal of environmental research and public health 20190605 11

An increasing number of emergency department (ED) visits have posed a challenge to health systems in many countries, but an understanding of non-emergent ED visits has remained limited and contentious. This retrospective study analyzed ED visits using three representative cohorts from routine data to explore the profiles and longitudinal pattern changes of non-emergent ED visits in Taiwan. Systematic-, personal-, and ED visit-level data were analyzed using a logistic regression model. Average ma ...[more]

PMID: 31195627

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Project description:BACKGROUND:Visits to emergency departments (EDs) for dental symptoms are on the rise, yet reliance on EDs for dental care is far from ideal. ED toothache visits represent opportunities to improve access to professional dental care. METHODS:This research focuses on 20- to 29-year-olds, who account for more ED toothache visits than do other age groups. The authors analyzed publicly available ED visit data from the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS) from 2001 through 2010. They assessed trends in ED toothache visit rates compared with back pain and all cause ED visits during the past decade. The authors used NHAMCS data for years 2009 and 2010 to characterize the more recent magnitude, relative frequency, and independent risk factors for ED toothache visits. Statistical analyses accounted for the complex sampling design. RESULTS:The average annual increase in ED visit rates among 20- to 29-year-olds during 2001-2010 was 6.1% for toothache, 0.3% for back pain, and 0.8% for all causes of ED visits. In 2009 and 2010, 20- to 29-year-olds made an estimated 1.27 million ED visits for toothaches and accounted for 42% of all ED toothache visits. Toothache was the fifth most common reason for any ED visit and third most common for uninsured ED visits by 20- to 29-year-olds. Independent risk factors for ED toothache visits were being uninsured or Medicaid-insured. CONCLUSIONS:Younger adults increasingly rely on EDs for toothaches-likely because of barriers to accessing professional dental care. Expanding dental coverage and access to affordable dental care could increase options for timely dental care and decrease ED use for dental symptoms. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS:Though additional research is needed to better understand why younger adults disproportionately use the ED for toothaches, findings from this study suggest the importance of maintaining access to a dental home from childhood through adolescence and subsequently into early adulthood.

Project description:ObjectivesEmergency services utilisation is a critical policy concern. The paediatric population is the main user of emergency department (ED) services, and the main contributor to low acuity (LA) ED visits. We aimed to describe the trends of ED and LA ED visits under a comprehensive, universal health insurance programme in Taiwan, and to explore factors associating with potentially unnecessary ED utilisation.Design and settingWe used a population-based, repeated cross-sectional design to analyse the full year of 2000, 2005, 2010 and 2015 National Health Insurance claims data individually for individuals aged 18 years and under.ParticipantsWe identified 5 538 197, 4 818 213, 4 401 677 and 3 841 174 children in 2000, 2005, 2010 and 2015, respectively.Primary and secondary outcome measuresWe adopted a diagnosis grouping system and severity classification system to define LA paediatric ED (PED) visits. Generalised estimating equation was applied to identify factors associated with LA PED visits.ResultsThe annual LA PED visits per 100 paediatric population decreased from 10.32 in 2000 to 9.04 in 2015 (12.40%). Infectious ears, nose and throat, dental and mouth diseases persistently ranked as the top reasons for LA visits (55.31% in 2000 vs 33.94% in 2015). Physical trauma-related LA PED visits increased most rapidly between 2000 and 2015 (0.91-2.56 visits per 100 population). The dose-response patterns were observed between the likelihood of incurring LA PED visit and either child's age (OR 1.06-1.35 as age groups increase, p<0.0001) or family socioeconomic status (OR 1.02-1.21 as family income levels decrease, p<0.05).ConclusionDespite a comprehensive coverage of emergency care and low cost-sharing obligations under a single-payer universal health insurance programme in Taiwan, no significant increase in PED utilisation for LA conditions was observed between 2000 and 2015. Taiwan's experience may serve as an important reference for countries considering healthcare system reforms.

Project description:ImportanceThe sequelae of palate trauma vary from minimal discomfort to major neurovascular injury. Infrequency of palate trauma and clinician unfamiliarity with the disease process may lead to variation in evaluation, treatment, and disposition in the emergency department (ED).ObjectivesTo measure the incidence of primary palate trauma visits to US emergency departments with analysis of demographics, disposition, and repair and to determine frequency and factors associated with head and neck imaging.Design, setting, and participantsA retrospective analysis using the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Nationwide Emergency Department Sample was performed of 22 094 patients presenting to US emergency departments from 2006 to 2010 with a primary diagnosis of palate trauma. Data analysis was conducted from March 29, 2016, to November 18, 2017.Main outcomes and measuresNational estimates of palate trauma were calculated from weights available within the database. Palate repair was identified by International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification procedure codes. Imaging was calculated from reliable Current Procedural Terminology coding facilities identified using a previously published method. Logistic models were calculated to identify clinical associations for admission, imaging, and palate repair.ResultsA total of 22 094 patients (13 967 male and 8121 female patients, 6 missing data on sex; median age, 2.8 years [interquartile range, 1.1-6.1 years]) with primary palate trauma presented to US emergency departments during the study period. Total hospital visits decreased from 4715 (1.58 per 100 000 people) to 3915 (1.26 per 100 000 people) during the 5-year study period. A total of 19 819 patients (89.7%) had routine discharge from the hospital, while palate repair (965 [4.4%]) and mortality (34 [0.2%]) were rare. Complicated palate trauma (odds ratio [OR], 5.32; 95% CI, 3.10-9.15), male sex (OR, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.11-2.21), codiagnosis status (OR, 2.75; 95% CI, 1.84-4.12), and residence in the Northeast vs South (OR, 2.73; 95% CI, 1.11-6.71) increased the likelihood of admission, which was infrequent (1027 patients [4.6%]). After restriction to reliable Current Procedural Terminology coding facilities, head and neck imaging occurred in 823 of 6897 patients (11.9%). Factors associated with head and neck imaging included living in a medium vs large metropolitan area (OR 1.62; 95% CI, 1.04-2.55), while living in the Midwest vs South region (OR, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.25-0.74) had a negative association with imaging.Conclusions and relevanceAlthough it is often suggested in the otolaryngology literature to perform imaging, primary palate trauma usually results in a routine discharge home without imaging or repair. Imaging frequency should be noted since palate trauma could have life-threatening neurovascular sequelae, which presents an opportunity to define and promote optimal management for potential neurologic sequelae in the patients who were not imaged.

Project description:Background/objectiveEmergency department (ED) visits have declined while excess mortality, not attributable to COVID-19, has grown. It is not known whether older adults are accessing emergency care differently from their younger counterparts. Our objective was to determine patterns of ED visit counts for emergent conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic for older adults.DesignRetrospective, observational study.SettingObservational analysis of ED sites enrolled in a national clinical quality registry.ParticipantsOne hundred and sixty-four ED sites in 33 states from January 1, 2019 to November 15, 2020.Main outcome and measuresWe measured daily ED visit counts for acute myocardial infarction (AMI), stroke, sepsis, fall, and hip fracture, as well as deaths in the ED, by age categories. We estimated Poisson regression models comparing early and post-early pandemic periods (defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) to the pre-pandemic period. We report incident rate ratios to summarize changes in visit incidence.ResultsFor AMI, stroke, and sepsis, the older (75-84) and oldest old (85+ years) had the greatest decline in visit counts initially and the smallest recovery in the post-early pandemic periods. For falls, visits declined early and partially recovered uniformly across age categories. In contrast, hip fractures exhibited less change in visit rates across time periods. Deaths in the ED increased during the early pandemic period, but then fell and were persistently lower than baseline, especially for the older (75-84) and oldest old (85+ years).ConclusionsThe decline in ED visits for emergent conditions among older adults has been more pronounced and persistent than for younger patients, with fewer deaths in the ED. This is concerning given the greater prevalence and risk of poor outcomes for emergent conditions in this age group that are amenable to time-sensitive ED diagnosis and treatment, and may in part explain excess mortality during the COVID-19 era among older adults.

Dataset Information

Characteristics of Non-Emergent Visits in Emergency Departments: Profiles and Longitudinal Pattern Changes in Taiwan, 2000-2010.

Publications

Characteristics of Non-Emergent Visits in Emergency Departments: Profiles and Longitudinal Pattern Changes in Taiwan, 2000-2010.

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